The Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the driest place on earth, a surreal, otherworldly high-altitude landscape of vast salt flats, steaming geysers, flamingo-dotted lagoons, red rock canyons and dunes so Mars-like that space missions test rovers here. Based in the oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama, visitors explore the Valley of the Moon, the El Tatio geysers at dawn, altiplano lakes, and, thanks to the clear, dry air and altitude, some of the finest stargazing on the planet.

What you actually see

• The Valley of the Moon - the surreal, Mars-like desert landscape at sunset.
• The El Tatio geysers - the high-altitude geyser field at dawn.
• The altiplano lagoons - the flamingo-dotted salt lakes and salt flats.
• The stargazing - the clear night skies and observatories.

When to go

Year-round, thanks to the arid climate, though nights and high-altitude excursions are cold; the occasional rare rain can cause flooding. Clear skies for stargazing are best away from the full moon. Acclimatise, as the altitude is significant.

Honest expectations

The altitude is significant, reaching over 4,000 metres on some excursions like the geysers, so acclimatise in San Pedro first and take it slowly. It gets bitterly cold at night and on dawn tours, despite the desert heat by day. San Pedro is touristy and prices are high. The vast distances mean most sights are seen on organised tours.

Nearby

The altiplano, the Bolivian salt flats of Uyuni and the coast are within the wider region.